Lighter for gaseous fuel burners



Nov. 20, 1934.

OK. BECKLER LIGHTER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS Filed Sept. 1, 1933 gnuc nfoz Oak/6y K. ficck/er Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BUBNEBS Application September 1, 1933, Serial No. 687,783

GCIaims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fighters for gaseous fuel burners.

One object of the invention is to provide an im- 1 proved lighter for gas burners, whereby a lighting or pilot flame is produced by heating a small quantity of gas to such a high degree of heat that it will automatically ignite or combust when discharged into the atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighter wherein an electrical current is employed to bring a heating element to such a high degree of heat that gas passing through a restricted passage in said element will in turn be heated to such a degree as to ignite when mixed with air.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a heating element having a restricted heating passage surrounded by a heating chamber, whereby an intensive heat is produced without melting the heating element.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a water heater equipped with a burner and lighter constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the lighter,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view of the burner and lighter system,

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modified form of lighter head,

Figure 6 is an end view of the same,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of said head, and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

In the drawing the numeral 10 designates a lighter head having a reduced tip or nozzle 11. The head is formed of heat resisting material which is also a non-conductor of electricity. Suitably treated fire clay may be used for this purpose. The head is provided with an axially extending bore 12 having an integral reduced collar 13 at its rear end and a similar collar 14 at its forward end. Within the rear collar an axial duct or port 15 extends through the head rearwardly and a reduced duct or port 16 extends through the tip 11 from within the forward collar 14.

The rear end of the head is provided with a countersunk recess 1'7 in which a nut 18 is securely fastened. The forward end of a gas supply tube 19 is screwed into said nut, whereby the head 10 is supported on the front end of said tube. The tube is screwed into a boss 20 on the side of a vertical valve cylinder 21, as is shown in Figures 1 and 4. Gas is supplied to the cylinder by a pipe 22 connected to its upper end. A port 23 in the cylinder communicates with the tube and when this port is uncovered gas is supplied to the lighter head 10.

Within the bore 12, I mount a wire resistance or heating coil 24. The structure of this coil is very important, because it makes for the success of the invention. Thecoil is wound so as to produce a large outer member or jacket 25 and a reduced axial core or inner member 26, whereby an enclosed cylindrical chamber 2'7 is formed between the coils. The coil is supported on the collars 13 and 14 and is wound from one continuous piece of wire so as to produce opposite terminals 25' and 26', which may be embedded in the head 10 so as to be engaged by terminal screws 28.

The core 26 has a bore or axial passage of substantially the same diameter as the ports 15 and 16, so that a continuous restricted passage is formed to conduct the gas through the head. The convolutions of the coil are placed close together so that there is substantially no escape of gas from the core 26 into the passage 27. I prefer to use nichrome or resistance wire havin equal properties, for the reason that such wire has a very high fusing point. It is necessary that the core 26 becomes so hot as to heat the gas passing therethrough to approximately 500 C. to 1000 C.

By reason of the chamber 2'7 surrounding the core, the heat, which is generated by the outer member 25 and the core itself, is jacketed around said core, thereby intensively heating the latter and also producing a sufiicient degree of heat within the core to effectively heat the gas without the wire becoming so hot as to fuse. The gas passing through the core is heated to such a degree that upon discharging through the port 16 and contacting the air outside of the tip 11 it immediately ignites. It is pointed out that the restricted passage for the gas and the intensely heated core are the important elements of the invention.

I have shown the head 10 disposed over an ordinary gas burner 30 supported on the end of a pipe 31 extending from the valve cylinder 21. The arrangement which I have shown cuts off the supply of gas to the head 10, as well as to the burner 30 when the burner is extinguished. However, it is desirable to supply gas to the lighter head in advance to its supply to the burner. In the cylinder 21 I mount a snugly fitting plunger 32, which is adapted to open and close ports 23 and 33 connected with the pipes 19 and 31. When the plunger is lowered the port 23 will be uncovered and gas supplied to the head 10. As the plunger continues to move downwardly, the port 33 will be uncovered, whereby gas will be supplied to the burner 30. This gives the lighter time to heat and ignite the gas before gas is discharged from the burner 30.

For operating the plunger 32, a thermostatic arm 34 is fastened in a case 35, which supports the cylinder 21. The outer end of the arm is engaged between pins 36 on the stem of the plunger, whereby adjustment may be had. A heating coil 37 is mounted in the bottom of the case and when this coil becomes hot the heat causes the arm 34 to straighten, thereby sliding the plunger 32 downwardly. The arm 34 is resilient and it is made of bimetal, or other suitable material, whereby it is bowed when cool and is straightened when heated.

In order to automatically operate the lighter, a thermostat 38 is mounted in the reservoir of the heater 39. The lighter 10 and the burner 30 are disposed in the fire box 40 of said heater. Circuit wires A and A, carrying an ordinary 110 volt, or other current, are connected to a transformer B. A wire C leads from the transformer to the switch D of the thermostat, as is shown in Figure 4. A wire E leads from this switch to one of the terminal screws 28 of the coil 25. A circuit wire F leads from the other terminal screw 28 of said coil to the coil 37., This coil is connected with the transformer B by a wire G and an overload fuse H is connected in said wire.

It is obvious that whenever the thermostat becomes suficiently cool to close the switch D, the circuit is closed through the coils 25 and 37, whereby the latter is heated. The coil 37 attracts the arm 34, whereby the plunger 32 is slid downwardly. Gas supplied through the pipe 22 passes from the chamber 21 through the port 23 when the latter is uncovered by the plunger. By the time this gas reaches the core 26, the latter will be sufiiciently hot to heat the gas so that it will ignite upon being discharged through the port 16 of the tip 11. By this time the plunger 32 will have uncovered the port 33, whereby gas will be supplied to the burner 30.

Whenever the thermostat 38 is heated sufficiently to open the switch D, the electric circuit will be opened, thus permitting the coils to cool. The coil 37 will cool first and the resilient arm 34 will gradually slide the plunger 32 upwardly, thus first cutting off the port 33 and extinguishing the burner 30 and later cutting off the port 23 and extinguishing the lighter. By reason of the fuse F, the circuit will be opened in case of an electrical failure, thereby assuring cutting off of the gas to the burner and lighter. As the supply of gas to the lighter and burner is cut off when the latter are not in use, a failure of the gas supply would have noefiect unless the electrical circuit was closed, and whenever such cir cuit is closed the lighter is operated. By this arrangement the lighter would be immediately re-lit if extinguished by a blast of air or any other external means.

It is possible to heat the gas by other means than the coil 25, but experiments have shown that many of such devices are impractical and can not be made to operate. A single coil could probably be made long enough to function, but its length and expense would be prohibitive. In Figures 5 to 8, I have shown another form of lighter employing a cylindrical bar 10', which is formedof ground aluminum and silicon carbide, or equivalent materials. The bar is provided with an axial duct 40 extending from one end, but terminating a substantial distance from the other end, as is shown in Figure 7. The duct connects with an inclined port 41 extending through the bar. The bar is suspended in hangers 42, one of which is connected to the wire E and the other of which is connected to the wire F. The hangers are carried by an insulating bar 43. A cap 44 surrounds the entrant end of the bar and the pipe 19 is screwed into this cap.

The particular character of bar set forth becomes very hot when energized by the electrical current. However, the duct 40 must be small and it is necessary in forming the bar to have that portion surrounding the duct formed almost entirely of silicon carbide, while the outer lying portions, and particularly the ends, contain a greater proportion of aluminum. This is done in order to create a higher temperature around the duct and lower temperatures at the ends where the hangers 42 engage. If this is not done, the hangers will be melted when the bar is heated. The intensive heating zone which surrounds the duct 40 in this form corresponds to the heating chamber 27 of the coil 25. Experiments have proved that unless an intensive heating medium is provided contiguous to the gas passage, the gas will not be heated sufiiciently to ignite upon being discharged from said passage.

The description which has been given recites more or less detail of a particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and useful, however, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A lighter for gas burners comprising, an electrical heating element having an elongated restricted gas passage extending therethrough, and means in the element subject to intensive heating by an electric current located contiguous to the passage and extending therealong for heating the flowing gas to a sufiiciently high temperature to cause it to ignite when discharged into the atmosphere.

2. A lighter for gas burners comprising, a head having a gas passage therethrough, an electric heating coil disposed in said head, said coil having an outer heating member and a heating core having a restricted passage aligning with the passage of the head, said coil having a heating chamber between its heating member and its core, and means for supplying gas to the passages.

3. A coil for a lighter comprising, an outer coiled member and an inner reduced core closely coiled to form a restricted passage therethrough, said outer member and core being of a single piece of resistance wire, there being a cylindrical heating chamber between the outer member and the core.

4. A lighter for a gas burner comprising, a bar having a restricted passage extending therethrough, electrical terminals at the ends of the bar, said bar being free from coils and composed of material subject to heating when electrically energized, and having an intensive heating zone contiguous to its passage and extending therealong.

5; A lighter for gas burners comprising, a nonmetallic head of fire resisting material having an enlarged axial bore and reduced gas ports at each end, and an electric heating coil disposed axially in said bore and including an outer member and a core registering with the ports of the head,

there being a heating chamber between the core and the outer member of the coil.

6. A lighter for gas burners comprising, a nonmetallic head of fire resisting material having an enlarged axial bore and reduced gas ports at each end, and an electric heating coil disposed axially in said bore and including an outer member and a core registering with the ports of the head, there being a heating chamber between the core and the outer member of the coil, the convolutions of the core of the coil being in intimate contact so as to preclude the escape of gas therebetween.

OAKLEY K. BECKLER. 

